Licata Enterprises Acquires Renewal Science LLC

Renewal Science LLC is now a part of Licata Enterprises. The colloidal silver manufacturer joins the 59-year-old Licata Enterprises portfolio, which includes World Organic, Nature’s Concept, Vita-Vista, Setebaid, and Nu-Vista. As part of the acquisition:

  • Co-founder Sheryl Ronald, Ph.D., will remain involved as a consultant to ensure maintenance of the products high quality.
  • The products will be dual-branded as both Renewal Silver by World Organic sold through natural foods distributors and as a stand-alone Renewal Silver brand.
  • The first products that will debut under the partnership will be Silver Hydrosol liquid colloidal silver in 2-oz. dropper glass bottles to 16-oz. glass bottles.
  • Additional items will be Vertical (nasal) Spray of colloidal silver and Active Botanicals including Eucalyptus, Peppermint and Tea Tree Oil, and SilverAloe Spray for the Throat and Skin blended with Aloe Vera.

Black Girl Vitamins Honors Juneteenth with Campaign

"Nourishing Our Roots" is the latest campaign from Black Girl Vitamins (BGV) in honor of Juneteenth. The company will celebrate the holiday with a special sale, exclusive bonus gifts, a commemorative brand photoshoot, and a nationwide Juneteenth event tour with a portion of the proceeds going directly to BGV's initiative to empower aspiring medical students. From June 16-20, customers can enjoy from:

  • A special Juneteenth sale that will include the popular BGV Collagen Powder.
  • Limited-edition gifts like commemorative BGV pins, satin bonnets, pill cases, and exclusive Juneteenth postcards for the first 2,000 orders.
  • A specially curated 90's cookout-themed brand photoshoot representing Black culture, joy, and community.
  • The multi-city Juneteenth event tour. Customers can engage with the brand which will be making their way through the country stopping by several celebrations including Refine Collective's 5th Annual Juneteenth Freedom Market in Chicago, Amazon Hq2's Juneteenth Event, and other festivities scheduled in Atlanta, Georgia; Detroit, Michigan; Grand Rapids, Michigan; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Columbus, Ohio.

For more on new campaign, visit blackgirlvitamins.co/

Vidya Secures U.S. Patent

Vidya has received a U.S. patent for its saw palmetto extract, Vi-Spo. Created using Vidya's patented Supercritical CO₂ extraction technology, Vi-Spo focuses on hormonal imbalance as a result of prostate discomfort. Beyond prostate health it is available for formulation in men's health, hair health, and women's urinary health products. The clinically validated composition of Vi-Spo is standardized to 3% beta-sitosterol—up to 10 times more potent than conventional saw palmetto extracts.

“Standard saw palmetto extracts often lack the precision, potency, and consistency needed for reliable prostate support,” said Aleksander Richards, R&D Director at Vidya. “With Vi-Spo, we’ve developed a patented composition that delivers clinically relevant outcomes through a clearly defined mechanism of action—setting it apart from generic offerings.”

Cargill Earns Top Spot

The Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNi) has recognized Cargill has the top ranking company for removing trans fats from its edible oils portfolio. In the first ever Edible Oil Supplier Index 2025, Cargill was commended for removing industrially produced trans-fatty acids* (iTFAs) from its entire edible oils portfolio, even in markets with no regulatory mandate. To create its ranking list, ATNi judged eight of the largest edible oil suppliers on 19 different indicators across four categories. Cargill earned the highest overall score, 81.4%, leading across all assessment areas, with the second-highest scoring company achieving just 14.2%. The achievement follows the company's 2024 recognition as the first global edible oil supplier whose portfolio complies with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of no more than two grams of iTFAs per 100 grams of fats and oils in food products — a threshold set to protect public health.

“Being recognized by ATNi reinforces our responsibility to lead with purpose — delivering safe, sustainable nutrition through the food and ingredient solutions we provide,” explained David VandenEinde, Vice President of R&D for Food North America, Cargill. “This achievement is the result of decades of innovation, close collaboration with customers like Chantilly, and investment in improved edible oil solutions. We will remain fully engaged with food manufacturers and related stakeholders, working together to help pave the way for a healthier and more resilient global food supply.”

Kerry Group Announces Inaugural Scholarship

Kerry Group is partnering with the Monell Chemical Senses Center for the Stephen Manheimer Scholarship in Flavor Science. Honoring Manheimer's contributions to the flavor and food industries, Kerry Group, his role in the development of J. Manheimer Inc., the scholarship will provide up to two years of study to support the next generation of flavor scientists through:

  • Fostering expertise in taste perception.
  • Bridging academia and industry, driving both discovery and real-world applications.
  • Funding Master's and Doctoral students with an interest in careers in the flavor or food industry, covering tuition, research stipends, and project expenses at the Monell Center.

Interested participants are encouraged to reach out to Raechel Hammer, rhammer@monell.org for more information on the scholarship and related application process.

Lief Labs CEO Featured Speaker During VIA Conference

Last month, Lief Labs CEO & Founder, Adel Villalobos, was a featured speaker in a fireside chat during the Valley Industry Association (VIA) Workforce Development Conference. Held at the Hyatt Regency in Valencia, CA, The Future of Work 2.0: Igniting Generational Talent in a Tech-Driven World, gathered executives, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and human resource leaders from top companies of the Santa Clarita Valley for an event devoted to attracting, retaining, and developing top talent in a competitive market and creating pathways for growth that resonate across generations. Guests were able to sit in on discussions with keynote speakers, Seth Mattison and Kim Lear, as they shared insights into the future of work and the role generational trends, AI, and emerging technology play.

“I greatly appreciated the opportunity to share my experience and views on how company culture is critical to scaling a business. Culture is as important as the great nutritional products we produce at Lief. I believe you can’t have one without the other,” shared Villalobos. “The VIA Conference did a fantastic job of bringing together great insight on the future of workforce development through the perspective of generational differences and technology and the impact these two areas are already having on businesses and their culture.”

FrieslandCampina Plans Product Debut During IDDBA

Guests attending this year's International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) event in New Orleans will be treated to samples of brand new products from FrieslandCampina, the largest producer of Gouda and Dutch cheese, and one of the largest U.S. importers of specialty cheeses. Booth 4743 will feature an interactive and updated display from the brand highlighting their "Nourishing A Better Planet" Sustainability Program and their new offerings:

  • Gayo Azul Chili Pepper Slices – Rich, buttery, and made with whole milk, these spicy slices are perfect for burgers, sandwiches, or melting over just about anything.
  • Ivy’s Reserve Salted Farmhouse Butter – now available in select Whole Foods, made from a century-old English family recipe.
  • Rembrandt 12-Month PDO from A Dutch Masterpiece – an aged Gouda with a caramel bite and official PDO status for authenticity and quality.

"The new items debuting, including Ivy’s Reserve Salted Farmhouse Butter, Royal Hollandia Chili Pepper, and Gayo Azul Chili Pepper slices, are just a few of the exciting items visitors will see at the robust and exciting FrieslandCampina IDDBA booth this year!” shared Josh Rosen, Brand Manager of FrieslandCampina Consumer Dairy.

Arla Foods Partnering with Alchemy Agencies

Arla Foods Ingredients has entered into a distribution agreement with Alchemy Agencies to serve the Australian, New Zealand, and Pacific Islands performance nutrition markets. The new partnership will push forward Arla Foods Ingredients’ strategy to expand sales in Southeast Asia and in ANZ/Oceania by mainly focusing on Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). Products that will be spotlighted by Alchemy include:

  • Lacprodan whey protein isolate, which contains at least 90% protein and offers solutions for ready-to-drink (RTD) sports beverages, gels, powder shakes and protein bars.
  • Capolac, a milk mineral concentrate rich in highly bioavailable calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, with benefits for muscle function, healthy bones and body composition.
  • MicelPure, a micellar casein isolate containing 86% native protein and naturally high in calcium for sports nutrition RTD beverages and shakes.
  • Nutrilac PB-8420, a high-quality whey and milk protein ingredient that ensures soft texture, processability and robustness for the outer mass of sports protein bars.
  • Nutrilac MFGM, which is rich in high-quality whey protein and the complex lipids present in milk fat globule membrane to support physical performance and strength.

“Arla Foods Ingredients is delighted to welcome Alchemy Agencies as a distribution partner. The new agreement for ANZ/Oceania is an excellent fit for our performance nutrition solutions in this dynamic market. Crucially, it will play a key role in supporting our ambitions in Asia and ensuring our focus on customer centricity and service," explained Alexander Leufgen, Head of Asia at Arla Foods Ingredients.

Lark Ellen Farm Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Premium grain-free, sprouted granola snacks brand, Lark Ellen Farm, celebrated its 10 year anniversary last month. Founded in 2015 by Kelley Scanlin, the woman-founded business was born out of her search for grain-free, nourishing snacks that still delivered on taste. To honor the milestone, Lark Ellen treated customers to special promotions, behind-the-scenes content highlighting the company's journey, and expressions of gratitude to the loyal customers who have supported its growth throughout the years. "Our ten-year journey represents so much more than business growth," reflected Scanlin. "As a mom-founded brand, every decision has been guided by the same principles I use in parenting—integrity, care, and a genuine desire to nourish. That's been our compass for a decade, and it's particularly meaningful to have that recognized through the RangeMe collection during our anniversary month."

In addition to its anniversary, Lark Ellen Farm celebrated its selection for RangeMe's "Brands Created by Moms" collection. The feature will connect the brand with potential retail partners via targeted emails sent to buyers, encouraging them to explore the brand's profile and products within the curated collection. "Being featured in RangeMe's 'Brands Created by Moms' collection is both an honor and a powerful opportunity for Lark Ellen Farm," said Scanlin. "Having our brand highlighted to buyers nationwide perfectly complements our anniversary month celebrations and speaks to how far we've come from our early farmer's market days."

Sol-ti Expands Product Availability

Functional beverage brand, Sol-ti, will now have its wellness shot products available for purchase in Starbucks, Walmart, and Target locations across the country. Known for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, SuperShot is a flavorful and functional wellness drink packed with freshly pressed organic ingredients available in a convenient 2.1-oz. glass bottle. Each bottle is cold-pressed in the United States and crafted with premium organic ingredients. With consumers continuing to demand food and beverage products be available in non-plastic packaging, Sol-ti's patented UV light-filtered, glass bottled beverages and supplements offer a new sustainable standard in wellness innovation and products.

“This expansion is a significant milestone for Sol-ti and a testament to the growing consumer demand for high-quality, functional wellness products that are Bottled in Glass for purity and the planet,” shared Ryne O’Donnell, Founder of Sol-ti. “We’re honored to support our retail partners as they continue to make functional beverage options more accessible to people across the country.”

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